Why Georgetown belongs on your DC itinerary
Georgetown is older than Washington, DC itself. Founded in 1751 as a tobacco port — about four decades before the capital was established — it grew up around cobblestone streets and Federal-style brick rowhouses that still define the neighborhood today.
Modern Georgetown wears its history lightly: the same streets now hold the city’s best shopping, a celebrated dining scene, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, and a Potomac waterfront made for sunsets. This guide covers everything for a 2026 visit: what to do, where to eat, the canal and waterfront, and how to get there — including the important fact that Georgetown has no Metro station.
M Street and Wisconsin Avenue: Georgetown’s shopping heart
Start on M Street NW, Georgetown’s main commercial strip, and its cross street Wisconsin Avenue. Together they form one of the East Coast’s great shopping corridors — a mix of international brands, independent boutiques, bookshops, and design stores set in 18th- and 19th-century buildings.
Even if you are not buying, the window-shopping is the attraction: look up above the storefronts at the original brick facades, dormers, and shutters. The side streets off M Street — lined with some of DC’s most photographed rowhouses — reward a slow wander with a coffee.
The C&O Canal: walk the towpath
One block south of M Street, the neighborhood drops into another century. The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal runs through the heart of Georgetown, its stone locks, lock-keeper houses, and tree-lined towpath preserved as part of the C&O Canal National Historical Park.
Walk the towpath west from the locks at 30th Street: it is flat, shaded, and one of the most peaceful strolls in the city — a sharp contrast to the bustle one block north. In the 1800s, mule-drawn boats carried coal 184.5 miles from Cumberland, Maryland to this very spot; the canal’s Georgetown terminus is where it all ended.
Georgetown Waterfront Park: the Potomac at sunset
Follow the streets downhill to Georgetown Waterfront Park, the neighborhood’s front porch on the Potomac River. Lawns, fountains, and a riverside promenade look straight across the water to Theodore Roosevelt Island and the Rosslyn skyline in Virginia.
This is Georgetown’s sunset spot — grab a bench as the light goes gold over the river, and watch the rowers and kayakers go by. In warm months, kayaks and paddleboards launch from the boathouses just upriver, and the Key Bridge frames it all to the west.
The Exorcist steps and Georgetown’s famous corners
Film fans make the pilgrimage to the “Exorcist steps” at the corner of 36th and Prospect Streets NW — all 75 steep stone stairs made famous by the 1973 film The Exorcist. A bronze plaque at the top tells the story; the climb is a workout and the photos from the bottom, looking up, are the classic shot.
Nearby, don’t miss the Old Stone House at 3051 M Street NW — built in 1766, run by the National Park Service, and one of the oldest buildings in all of DC, with a quiet garden out back. Uphill, Dumbarton Oaks pairs a free museum of Byzantine and pre-Columbian art with celebrated formal gardens (check current garden admission on dumbartonoaks.org before you go).
Where to eat in Georgetown
Georgetown is one of DC’s great dining neighborhoods, from historic taverns to waterfront fine dining. Three institutions, all verified open:
- Martin’s Tavern (1264 Wisconsin Ave NW) — serving since 1933, DC’s oldest family-run restaurant. The “proposal booth” is where JFK asked Jackie to marry him.
- Fiola Mare (3050 K St NW) — upscale Italian seafood right on the waterfront, with Potomac views from the dining room.
- Clyde’s of Georgetown (3236 M St NW) — the classic American tavern on M Street, a reliable lunch or dinner stop.
For something sweet, the original Georgetown Cupcake shop draws lines down the block — go early or on a weekday to skip the wait.
Getting there: there is no Metro station in Georgetown
Read this before you go: Georgetown has no Metro station — the neighborhood famously fought off Metro construction decades ago, and the nearest stops are a walk away. Your options:
- Metro + walk: take the Blue, Orange, or Silver Line to Foggy Bottom, then walk about 15–20 minutes northwest into Georgetown. From Virginia, Rosslyn plus a walk across Key Bridge works too.
- DC Circulator bus: the Circulator’s Georgetown routes connect the neighborhood to downtown and Union Station cheaply — the easiest no-car option.
- Rideshare or taxi: simplest door-to-door, especially at night.
Driving is the worst option: street parking in Georgetown is scarce and expensive, and M Street traffic crawls on weekends. If you must drive, use a garage and expect to pay.
How to fit Georgetown into your DC trip
Give Georgetown half a day at minimum — a full day if you shop and linger over dinner. It pairs naturally with Foggy Bottom and the Kennedy Center (an easy walk along the river), or as a relaxed evening after a day on the National Mall. Come hungry, wear walking shoes for the cobblestones, and stay for the waterfront sunset.
Georgetown, Washington DC FAQs
Is there a Metro station in Georgetown?
No — Georgetown has no Metro station. The closest stops are Foggy Bottom (Blue/Orange/Silver lines), about a 15–20 minute walk away, or Rosslyn across Key Bridge. The DC Circulator bus also serves the neighborhood.
What is Georgetown known for?
Georgetown is DC’s oldest neighborhood (founded 1751), known for its cobblestone streets and Federal rowhouses, M Street and Wisconsin Avenue shopping, the C&O Canal towpath, Georgetown Waterfront Park on the Potomac, and the “Exorcist steps” from the 1973 film.
How long should I spend in Georgetown?
Plan at least half a day: M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, the C&O Canal towpath, the waterfront, and a meal. A full day lets you add Dumbarton Oaks, the Old Stone House, and sunset at the waterfront.
Where are the Exorcist steps in Georgetown?
The 75 stone steps are at the corner of 36th and Prospect Streets NW, near the western end of M Street by Key Bridge. A bronze plaque at the top marks their role in the 1973 film The Exorcist.
Hero photo: Georgetown Waterfront Park via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0, APK). C&O Canal and M Street photos via Wikimedia Commons (CC0, Warren LeMay).
